FORCES THAT INFLUENCE AND SHAPE BEHAVIOUR

Cult

Cult

A religious organization that worships its leader and remains outside societal cultural traditions

Social

Living together in organized communities

Social Class

Groups of people ranked by economic, social, or cultural characteristics

Subjectively Interpret

Explaining meaning based on personal experiences or views

Informant

A confidential source of information

Stereotypes

Perceptions based on preconceived standardized ideas

Socialization

The process of learning accepted societal behaviors

Agent of Socialization

Types of social contacts or influences people encounter

Values

Principles or standards considered worthwhile or desirable

Internalize

Incorporating values, attitudes, and beliefs into one's own set

Psychoanalysis

Patients discussing background, feelings, and experiences with a psychologist

Defense Mechanism

Unconscious mental processes protecting the ego against anxiety or shame

Needs

Physiological or psychological requirements for well-being

Hierarchy

Ranking of people, items, or ideas by dominance or priority

Syndrome

Group of symptoms consistently occurring together

Adrenaline

Hormone affecting circulation, muscular action, causing excitement

Bipolar

Demonstrating two extreme and opposite forms of behavior

Repressed

Excluded from the conscious mind

Apathetic

Showing no interest or emotion

Delusions

False beliefs, often about one's importance or persecution

Withdraw

Process of discontinuing an addictive substance with physical and physiological reactions

Paranoia

Mental illness with unwarranted feelings of persecution and jealousy

Behavior Therapy

Treatment of inappropriate behavior patterns using basic learning principles